Skinning machine



sept. 19, 195o R. T. TOWNSEND 2,522,728

SKINNING MACHINE Sept. 19, 1950 R. T. TowNsEND 2,522,728

SKINNING MACHINE Filed .July 2, 194e :s sheets-sheet 2 sept- 19, 1950 R.T. TowNsEND 2,522,728

' SKINNING MACHINE Fild ,July 2, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept.19, 1950 SKINNING MACHINE Ray T. Townsend, Des Moines, Iowa, assignortoTownsend Engineering Company, Des Moines, Iowa, a corporationof IowaApplicationJuly 21946, Serial No. 680,939

8 Claims. ;('Cl. 14S-130) This invention relates to skinning machines,and particularly machines for `Skinning hams, shoulders, backs, etc.

My present invention is an improvement over that disclosed in myprevious application, Serial No. 562,460, filed November 8, 1944, andwhich became Patent Number 2,455,831 on December 7, 1948. A reissue forthis patent Serial Number 67,442 was applied for on December 27, 1948,and matured into Reissue Patent 23,222 on April 25, 1950. This generaltype of machine involved, and disclosed inthat application, includes anarrangement whereby a pressure shoe and a serrated roller cooperate topull the skin from the piece to be skinned. The pressure Vshoe isprovided with a Skinning blade for separating the skin from the iiesh. Atable supports the piece to be skinned where it can be readily fed tothe roller. The roller is formed with peripheral grooves, and strippingmeans iitted in the grooves strip the skin from the roller after it isdrawn from the flesh.

An object of the present invention is therprovision of an `adjustableSkinning blade. Adjust'- ment of the Skinning blade toward and away fromthe piece determines the amount of fat left on the skin.

Another object is the `provision of a knife-edge on the Skinning blade.In my previous applica-` tion, above-mentioned, I have shown a bluntedgeSkinning blade, and in many-instances such a blade serves a goodpurpose. A blunt-edge blade divides the skin and `flesh iat the naturalparting place; `the skin and esh of course are not integral, but areheld together by iatyand sheer pulling force will separate them, leavinga certain amount of the fat on each. A blunt-edge Skinning bladeproduces about the same` kind lof a result. However, it is oftendesirable to leave more or less fat on the skin for certain purposesthusthe knife-edge blade. The knife-edge can be made to cut into the Vfattoward the skin for removing as much of it as desired, and by thatfeature together with the adjustability of the blade, complete controlcan be had over the amount of fat removed from theskin.

An additional and important advantageous feature is that the skin neednot Abe parted manually, such as by loosening one corner, for theSkinning blade and roller to grip the skin. For instance, when Skinning`a round piece, the sk in is slitted longitudinally, and b y merelyplacing the piece with the slit next to the skinning blade, one side ofthe slit is caught between the pressure shoe and roller.

A `further object isthe provision of an inver.- tible table forsupporting the piece to be skinned. The table in one `position ishorizontal for supporting flat pieces. In another position the :table-slopes downwardly away from the roller and blade, sowthat roundpieces,such as` hams and shoulders, willtend to turnlaway from the skinning`blade as the skin-is qbeing pulled off Another object of the inventionis the provision `of a new' and improved type of stripping means forstrippingthe skin from ythe roller after it is pulled. Plates or ringsentirely encircle 'the Skinning roller and extend `beyond the peripheryof the roller at one point and are held against rotation by a bar orledge. They can be easily removed and cleaned.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of `the various parts of mydevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1` is a side View of the Skinning machine;

Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of theupper part of the machine onan enlarged scale, and showing the pressure `shoe out of engagement withthe roller;

Fig. 4 is a View similarto Fig. 3, but with the pressure shoe `inengagement with the roller, and with the supporting table inverted;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale, and showing thepressure shoe in engagement with the roller; and

Fig. 6 is a View taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 5, showing theroller in section, and the supporting means therefor at one end.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the Skinning machine of myinvention comprises a frame or stand l2,l havin-g diagonaluprights Ill,braced by cross pieces i6, andhaving an enclosingtwall or shield IB.

The skin pulling` means includes a 4roller 20, and alcvurved pressureshoe 22 cooperating with the roller, both of which extend across`themachine. The roller 2l)` is made upof a shaft 124 and a pluralityofrings 26 on the shaft. Each ring 26 is `generally o f a `widtl'i of the`main por-i tion indicated at 28, and extending -from the main portion.28 is a reduced portioni. Thereduced portion `3i) forms grooves` 32therebetween, and on the peripheryof the reduced Yportion `30 is a plu.-rality of teeth or serrations `34. The rings `26 Vare held againstrotation on the shaftby a key 36` 11t- 58, by means of a coupling 60.

ted into keyways 38 and 40 in the shaft and rings, respectively. Therings 26 are held against axial displacement by a locking ring 42 oneach end, which in turn are held by shields 44, one on each end. lTheshields 44 are secured to housings 46, and the housings 46 are mountedon the framework.

Referring to Fig. 2, a gear housing 48 is mounted at the left of themachine, and includes a gear 50 therein secured to the end of the shaft24, which projects into the housing. A motor 52 is mounted on a support54, which in turn is mounted on the frame. The drive shaft 56 of themotor -is connected to another shaft The shaft 150 is journaled in thegear housing 48, and is provided with a worm 62 for driving the gear 50and the roller in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 1, 3,4 and 5.

The pressure shoe 22 cooperates with the roller 20 for forming a skinpulling means. The pressure shoe 22 comprises a lower element 64, and anupper element 66. The lower element 64 is provided with a concave curvedsurface 68, which is adapted to engage the roller 20. On the uppersurface of the lower element 64 and toward the forward side thereof is arecess 'l0 for the reception of a Skinning blade 12 having a taper 13,forming a knife-edge. The upper element 66 is placed over the lowerelement 64 and engages a projection '14, which is at the rear of theupper surface of the lower element, and the Skinning blade 72. The twoelements 64 and 06 are secured together by a plurality of bolts 16extending through openings in the lower element, and threaded in to theupper element. Guiding studs 18 are fixed in the under surface of theupper element 66 and lit into holes formed in the lower element forguiding the two elements together. By loosening the bolts 16, theSkinning blade 12 can be adjusted outwardly and inwardly of the pressureshoe 22.

Means is provided for bringing the pressure shoe 22 into and out ofengagement with the roller 20, comprising a pair of arms 80, one at eachside of the machine, and pivoted at 82 on the frame. Formed on each endof the upper element 66 is a stud 84 forming trunnions, and

which extend into openings in the arms 80 near the pivot point of thearms. The pressure shoe 22 is free to swing or pivot about thesetrunmons.

An arm 85 extends rearwardly from the lower part of the lower element 64of the pressure shoe, and secured to the outer end of the arm 85 thereis a tension spring 86 leading downwardly where it is secured to theframe of the machine.

At the forward end of the arms 80 is a yoke 81 having a cross bar 88. Atreadle rod 0@ is secured to the cross bar 88 by means of a wing nut 92and locking nuts 93, and extends through opening 94 in the shield i8into the interior at the bottom, where it is pivoted to an arm 96. Thearm 96 is Welded to a shaft 98, which is pivoted in the cross pieces I6.Also fixed to the shaft 98 is another arm |00 having a treadle |02extending outwardly in front of the `machine. A tension spring |04 isconnected between the arm and the upper part of the frame, biasing thetreadle arm |00 upwardly.

The table for supporting the pieces to be skinned is shown at H0, whereit is bolted to bearing blocks H2, by means of bolts H4. One suchbearing blocks ||2 is at each side 0f the e machine, and is pivoted at 6in frame members ||8. From the bearing blocks ||2, the

table ||0 extends forwardly into proximity with the roller 20, asindicated at |20. The forward edge of the table has a beveled surface|22.

Stripping plates i 30, comprising rings are positioned one in each ofthe grooves 32 in the roller. These plates or rings encircle the roller,and each is provided with an extension |32 extending outwardly beyondthe teeth 34 of the roller, and the extensions |32 are of such a lengthto reach cap element |26 on the upper part of the frame I2.

The'stripping plates |30 are shown narrower than the grooves 32.However, it is desirable that they have merely a loose t and not producemuch drag Von the roller. They may be just thick enough to fit easilyinto the grooves 32.

Adjusting screws |24 are threaded into cap element |26 forming the upperpart of the frame I2. Lock nuts |28 are threaded on the adjusting screws|24 for locking the adjusting screws at any given adjustment. One suchadjusting screw is placed at either side of the machine, and the table lI0 rests thereon for adjusting the table at a given height.

A ballie |34 is Welded to the upper rear side of the machine just belowthe cap |26 on the frame.

Use cmd operation Fig. 3 shows the machine with the pressure shoe 22 outof engagement with the roller 20,

where it can be seen that there is a space between the surface 68 of thepressure shoe and the roller. The piece to be skinned is placed on thetable ||0 with the skin down, and the edge is forced toward the Skinningblade l2. Then the treadle |02 is depressed, which pulls the arms down,and thus the pressure shoe 22 is brought into engagement with theroller. Rotation of the roller counter-clockwise cooperates with thecurved surface 68 to pull the skin from the piece.

Fig. 5 shows a iiat piece of meat |36 on the table, with the skin |38shown being pulled between the roller and the pressure shoe. The body ofthe meat then passes over the pressure shoe. Here also (Fig. 5) is shownhow the stripping plates |30 operate. The extensions |32 extenddownwardly beyond the periphery of the roller, and the skin is deflectedby them away from the roller and drops down. It is then furtherdeflected by the baffle |34 into a receptacle. Upon releasing thetreadle |02, the spring |04 biases the treadle upwardly and therebybiases the arms 80 upwardly also. This brings the pressure shoe 22 outof engagement with the roller.

In the position of the table ||0 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the bevelsurface |22 of the table permits placing the forward edge of the tableclosely adjacent the roller. This permits the piece of meat to be forcedup on the roller, and to be started by that portion of the roller in thespace between the forward edge of the table and the edge of the skinningblade l2.

The Skinning blade 12 is disposed approximately tangential to the roller20, when it is in operating position, as shown in Fig. 5. To adjust theSkinning blade, the bolts 'I6 are loosened, the iblade moved out or in,i. e., to the right or left, and the bolts tightened. When the blade isinnermost (Fig. 5) and the pressure shoe is in operating position, thecutting edge of the blade is directly overthe center of the roller. Inthis position there is the least space between the blade and the roller,and substantially all of the fat is removed from the Skin. When theblade is adjusted outwardly to a more forward position, as` shown indotted `lines in Fig. 5, it tends to cut into the esh and'leaves morefat on'the skin.

In the usual operation ofthe machine, it is not necessary to lift thepressure shoefrom the roller, because the roller grips or drags themeatinto the Skinning blade, the knife-edge of the skinning blade readilyparting the skin from the meat. From that point on the skin is grippedsecurely between the roller and thepressure shoe, and pulled from thepiece of meat.

For skinning round pieces,such as hams and shoulders, the table |I0 iSinverted to the` position shown in Fig. 4. The bolts I|4 are removed andthe table l|0 is then inverted and secured to the undersurface of thebearing blocks H2.

This puts the rear surface ofthe table much lower, so that it slopes`downwardly away from the roller. The adjusting screws are set at theproper vertical height to accommodate this new position of the table.

In the case of at pieces, it is desirable to have the table l I0 flattores't the meat on it, and the meat is forced over the-top of thepressure shoe. However, in the case Aoi roundpieces, they rest on `"amuch smaller area, and in order for the round pieces toroll over as theskin is being pulled oif,\ the table H0 is turned to itsnew positionenabling the round pieces to roll back, or away from the Skinning blade,as the skin is being drawn off. In Fig. 4 a round `piece is indicated atl`40; from which the skin I4! is drawn.

When round pieces are to be skinned, since the skin lentirely encirclesthe piece, it `isnecessary to slit the skin longitudinally. It is notnecessary to rip one side of the skin `in `order to get itstartedthrough the machine; `it is only necessary to `place the piece ofmeat with Athe slit adjacent the Skinning blade 12, `the `rollerdragging the meat toward the Skinning blade, `and the knife-edge 13 ofthe Skinning blade works itself into the slitand beginsto part the skinfrom the meat. Many round pieces `are irregular, for example, shoulders,and in that case, there is usuallya portion of the skin which `doesnotentirely encircle the meat. This-portion `is vstarted onto theskinning blade rst, in order to start it more easily. By turning thepiece Yof meat in the proper direction, the entire skin is pulled olf,even though the shape is very irregular.

The shields 44 areof a diameter just slightly greater than the roller.The pressure shoe 22 comes into engagement with the shields 44 toprevent the pressure shoe from clashing -Withthe teeth of the roller.However, this spacing is very slight and because of that, good grippingaction is accomplished by the roller and the pressure shoe. The skin,after it `has been pulled, may have indentations formed by the teeth ofthe roller, but these do not effect the utility of the skin in mostcases.

The spring 36 ibiases the pressure shoe in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 3, so that when the'treadle 102 isreleased, the skinning blade 12 will be decisively raised from theroller.

The shields 44 also prevent the table ll0'from clashing Ywith the teeth.However, these shields ordinarily do not serve to space the table 4fromthe teeth, since the adjusting `screws I 24 serve that purpose.

Cil

For the purpose of casein cleaning the ma-` chine, `the wing nut 92 isremoved from the treadle `rod :90, releasing the yoke 88 from thetreadle rod. The arms can then be swung back tothe dotted line positionshown in Fig.` 3. This movement carries the pressure shoe away from theroller and partially inverts it. Also, the table I I0 can be swung clearof the roller to the dotted line position Shown in Fig. 3. This leavesthe `roller clear for cleaning.

The shaft 24 can be removed and the rings 26 and stripping plates |30removed from the shaft for Acleaning them individually. This isimportant in machinery for `working on meat, because obviouslyitmust bekept clean.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will beunderstood of course that Ido not `wish to be limited thereto since manymodifications may be made, and I therefore c ontemplateby the claimsappended hereto tocover any Such modications or substitutions of.mechanical equivalents as fall Within the true spirit andscope of myinvention.

I claim:

1. Awmachine ,for removing skin from an object, comprising a frame, adriven rotatable roller journalled in said frame, a pressure shoemovably mounted on said frame, said pressure shoe having a `concavesurface surrounding a substantial portion of said roller and closelyspaced therefrom when said pressure shoe is in the position it assumes`during theskinning operation, a skinnng `blade mounted on the leadingedge of said pressure shoe, said objectbeing adapted to `be moved towardsaid leading edge to perform a Skinning operation, said blade beingdisposed in a plane substantially tangent to `said roller, said rollerhaving a skin gripping surface thereon `cooperating with said .pressureshoe to pull said skin past said Skinning blade, said Skinning bladebeing adjustable in said pressure shoe in its plane of tangency to saidroller to form a mouth with saidroller, the angle of which is variabledue to said adjustment of the Skinning blade, said mouth facing towardsaid object and positioned ahead of the point of tangency between saidSkinning blade and Said roller `relative to the movement of lsaidobject, and means for urging said pressure shoe and said roller towardeach other and affording movement of said pressure shoe and roller apartfrom each other to automatically vary `the vspace therebetween toaccommodate varying thicknesses of Skin during `the removal of'the skinfrom saidobject.

2. A machine for removing skin 'from an object, comprising, a frame, adriven rotatable roller journalledin` saidframe, a pressureshoe movablymounted on said iframe, said pressure shoe having a concave surfacesurrounding .a substantial portion of said roller` and closely vspacedtherefrom *when said pressure shoe is in the position it assumes duringthe Skinning operation, a skinning blade mounted on `the leading edge ofsaid pressure shoe,- said object being adapted to be moved toward saidleading edge to perform a Skinning operation, said blade being disposedin a plane substantially tangent to said roller, said roller having askin gripping surface thereon cooperating with said pressure shoe topfull said skin A.past said Skinning blade, said Skinning blade beingadjustablein said pressure shoe in its plane of tangency` to said rollerto a position 'wherein thecutting-edgeof said Skinning blade is disposedahead the point of tangency between said skinningblade and saidrollerrelative to the `movefrom when said pressure shoe is in the Aposition itassumes during the skinning operation, and. a skinning blade mounted onthe leading edge of said pressure shoe, said object being adapted to bemoved toward said leading edge to perform a skinning operation, saidblade being disposed in a plane substantially tangent to said roller,said roller having a skin gripping surface thereon cooperating with saidpressure shoe to pull said skin past said skinning blade, said rollerand pressure sleeve forming the sole skin pulling means, said skinningblade being adjustable in said pressure shoe in its plane of tangency tosaid roller to a position wherein the cutting edge of said skinningblade is disposed ahead the point of tangency between said skinningblade and said roller relative to the movement of said object.

4. A machine for removing skin from an object, comprising, a frame, adriven rotatable roller journalled in said frame, a pressure shoemovably mounted on said frame, said pressure shoe having a concavesurface surrounding a substantial portion of said roller and closelyspaced therefrom when said pressure shoe is in the position it assumesduring the skinning operation, a skinning blade mounted on the leadingedge of said pressure shoe, said object being adapted to be moved towardsaid leading edge to perform a skinning operation, said roller having askin gripping surface thereon cooperating with said pressure shoe topull said skin past said skinning blade, said skinning blade beingadapted to form a mouth with said roller, said mouth facing toward saidobject and positioned ahead of the point of tangency between saidskinning blade and said roller relative to the movement of said object,said skinning blade being adjustable in said pressure shoe so as to varythe angle of said mouth when the pressure shoe is in skinning position,and means for urging said pressure shoe and said roller toward eachother and affording movement of said pressure shoe and roller apart fromeach other to automatically vary the space therebetween to accommodatevarying thicknesses of skin during the removal of the skin from saidobject.

5. A machine for removing skin from an object, comprising, a frame, adriven rotatable roller journalled in said frame, a pressure shoemovably mounted on said frame, said pressure shoe having a concavesurface surrounding a substantial portion of said roller and closelyspaced therefrom when said pressure shoe is in the position it assumesduring the skinning operation, a skinning blade mounted on the leadingedge of said pressure shoe, said object being adapted to be moved towardsaid leading edge to perform a skinning operation, said blade beingdisposed in a plane substantially tangent to said roller, said rollerhaving a skin gripping surface thereon cooperating with said pressureshoe to pull said skin past said skinning blade, said skinning bladebeing'adjustable in said pressure shoe in its plane of tangency to saidroller, to a position wherein the cutting edge of said skinning blade ispositioned ahead of the point of tangency between said blade and saidroller relative to the movement of said object, the adjustment of saidblade being effective to vary the angle between said blade and thatpoint on the roller nearest the cutting edge of the blade, and means forurging said pressure shoe and said roller toward each other andaffording movement of said pressure shoe and roller apart from eachother to automatically vary the space therebetween to accommodatevarying thicknesses of skin during the removal of the skin from saidobject.

6. A machine for removing skin from an object, comprising, a frame, adriven rotatable roller journalled in said frame, a pressure shoemovably mounted on said frame, said pressure shoe having a concavesurface surrounding a substantial portion of said roller and closelyspaced therefrom when said pressure shoe is in the position it assumesduring the skinning operation, a skinning blade mounted on the lea-dingedge of said pressure shoe, said object being adapted to be moved towardsaid leading edge to perform a skinning operation, said blade beingdisposed in a plane substantially tangent to said roller, said rollerhaving a skin gripping surface thereon cooperating with said pressureshoe to pull said skin past said skinning blade, said skinning bladebeing adjustable in said pressure shoe in its plane of tangency to saidroller to a position wherein the cutting edge of said skinning blade isdisposed adjacent the point of tangency between said skinning blade andsaid roller, and to a position wherein thel cutting edge thereof ispositioned ahead of said point of tangency relative to the movement ofsaid objects, and means for urging said pressure shoe and said rollertoward each other and` affording movement of said pressure shoe androller apart from each other to automatically vary the spacetherebetween to accommodate varying thicknesses of skin during theremoval of the skin from said object.

7. In a skinning machine, a frame, a toothed driven roller mountedthereon, said roller having a plurality of axially spacedcircumferential grooves therein, a concave pressure shoe, movable meansfor mounting said pressure shoe, said pressure shoe being pivotallymounted in said mounting means, said mounting means beingr operative forbodily moving said pressure shoe into and out of operative position withrespect to said roller, means limiting the movement of said pressureshoe into Operative position, said pressure shoe when in operativeposition surrounding a substantial portion of said roller, said pressureshoe having a reduced leading edge, said roller and pressure shoecooperating to form a skin pulling means for pulling an object to beskinned against said reduced leading edge, means biasing said pressureshoe about its pivot axis in said mounting means in a direction to movesaid reduced leading edge away from said roller, the trailing edge ofsaid pressure shoe being adapted to be in engagement with said limitingmeansi when said reduced lea-ding edge is moved away from said roller,stripping plates in said grooves and adapted to have free rotationtherein, said stripping plates being, for the major portion thereof, ofless radial dimension than said teeth, and having portions extendingradially beyond said teeth, and stop means on said frame in closeproximity to sai-d teeth for preventing rotation of said strippingplates in one direction.

8. In a Skinning machine, a frame, a toothed driven roller mountedthereon, movable means for mounting said pressure shoe, said pressureshoe being pivotally mounted in said mounting means, said mounting meansbeing operative for bodily moving said pressure shoe into and out ofoperative position with respect to said roller, means limiting themovement of said pressure shoe into operative position, said pressureshoe when in operative position surrounding a sub-- stantial portion ofsaid roller, said pressure shoe having a reduced leading edge, saidroller and pressure shoe cooperating to form a skin pulling means forpulling an object to be skinned against said reduced leading edge, andmeans biasing said pressure shoe about its pivot axis in said mountingmeans in a direction to move said reduced leading edge away from saidroller, the trailing 2 edge of said pressure shoe being adapted t0 be inengagement with said limiting means when said reduced leading edge ismoved away from said roller.

RAY T. TOWNSEND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

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